You think that friends will live forever but sometimes they can go in a blink of an eye, just like a light switch. Alvah Fickett was a friend who grew up about two miles from the farm where I lived who recently passed away unexpectedly. He was 52 years old.

It’s no accident that the 70th wedding anniversary is marked with one of the most precious metals on earth — platinum — because couples who reach their 70th anniversary are part of a small, exclusive club. So small, in fact, that the U.S. Census Bureau doesn’t have statistics on marriages that last so long.

Emma Rogers was in high school when the University of Maine started looking at ways to attract students into the field of engineering. By the time she was ready to apply to college, the new Engineering Pathways program looked like a perfect fit.

The City of Calais will not allow recreational retail marijuana sales following a public hearing and vote on Thursday, Sept. 27. While the 6-1 vote against the ordinance was decisive, the discussion yielded pros and cons. The medicinal marijuana outlets will continue operations without interruption.

Up against two favored major party candidates, Will Hoar is relying on a strong double-pronged message in his candidacy for Maine’s congressional District 2 seat.

Rep. Bruce Poliquin, the GOP incumbent running for a third term, faces Jared Golden, a young Democrat, politically backgrounded, aiming to make government more responsive. They both have healthy financial coffers and prime-time advertising running nearly non-stop as November 6 approaches.

Are you a business owner, resident or property owner in downtown Machias? Are you concerned about flooding and erosion issues in downtown Machias? Please make time for a community meeting on October 15 from 5-7 p.m. in Science 102 at the University of Maine at Machias.